Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-18
ISLAND POND VERMONT. NOVEMBER 18, 1887

by the four above named persons could in no
proper sense be deemed an exercise of the
constitutional power to grant feprieves, COM
mutations and pardons, unless based upon the
belief on my part of their entire innocence
of the crime of which they stand convicted.
A careful consideration of the evidence in
the record of the trial of the parties has
failed to produce upon my mind any impress
sion tending TO impelch the verdict of the
jury or the Judgment of the trial court, or of
the supreme court affirming the guilt Of all
these parties. Satisfied, therefore; as l am,
of their guilt, am precluded from consider
ing the question of Communication of the sem
tences of Albert R. Parsons, Adolph Fischer,
George Engel and Louis Lingg to imprison-
ment in the penitentiary, as they emphat-
icaly declare they will not accept such COM
mutation
Samuel Fielden, Michel Schwab and
August Spies unite in petition for executive
clemency. Fielden and Schwab, in addition,
present separate and supplementary petitions
for the communication of their sentences
While, as l said above, l am satisfied of the
guilt of all the parties, as found by the jury,
which was sustained by the judgments of the
courts, most careful consideration of the
whole subject leads me to the conclusion that
the sentence of the law as to Samuel Fielden
and Michel Schwab may be modified as to
each of them in the interest of humanity and
without doing violence to public justice
And as to the said Samuel Fielden and
Michel Schwab, the sentence is committed to
imprisonment in the penitentiary for life
As to all the other above named defendants
do not feel justified in interfering with the
sentence of the court. While would gladly
have come to different conclusion in regard
to the sentence of defendants, August Spies,
Adolph Fischer, George Engel, Albert r.
Parsons and Louis Lingg, regret to say
that under the solemn sense of the obliga-
lions of my Office, have been unable to do
SO. RICHARD j. OGLEsBY, Governor.
The following is a copy of the instrument
officially committing the sentences Of Fielden
and Schwab
Richard j. Oglesby Governor Of Illinois,
to the Sheriff of Cook County-Greeting
Whereas, Samuel Fielden and Michel
Schwab were convicted at the June term,
A. D. 1886, of the criminal court of Cook
county, of the crime of murder, and were
sentenced to be hanged; and
Whereas, It has been presented to me by
divers good citizens Of said county that said
Samuel Fielden and Michel Schwab are fit
and proper subjects for executive clemency
Now, know We that l, Richard J. Oglesby,
Governor of Illinois, by authority in me
vested by the constitution of this state, do
by these presents commute the sentence Of
the said Samuel Fielden and Michel Schwat
to Imprisonment in the penitentiary for life
In testimony whereof hereto set my hand
and cause to be affixed the great seal OF
state.
Done at tire city of Springfield this tentt
day of November, in the year of our Lord
1887, and of the independence of the United
States the 112th.
(Signed) R. j. OGLEsBY, Governor.
(Signe6 HENRY D. DEMENT,,
Secretary of State.